Groups can now adopt a city park

Published 7:11 am, Thursday, October 2, 2014

Courtesy PhotoAdvertising the newly launched Adopt a Park program are Parks Superintendent Rusty Reese (left), 4-H Club members Colton Scott, Samantha Scott and Colby Scott and Linda Shipp of RSVP. The two groups have adopted Regional Running Water Draw Hike & Bike Trail. less

Courtesy PhotoAdvertising the newly launched Adopt a Park program are Parks Superintendent Rusty Reese (left), 4-H Club members Colton Scott, Samantha Scott and Colby Scott and Linda Shipp of RSVP. The two ... more

Groups can now adopt a city park

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Following the example of Texas’ highly successful Adopt-a-Highway program that began in 1985, the City of Plainview has launched a new Keep Plainview Beautiful program entitled Adopt a Park.

Just like the Texas Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway effort, Plainview’s new Adopt a Park program encourages volunteers and groups to adopt a municipal playground, playfield, landscape area, section of a large park or trail. By making the adoption, groups and individuals will be volunteering to perform routine cleanup and special project activities in their adopted area.

According to Assistant City Manager Andrew Freeman, the Adopt a Park program was kicked off by RSVP and Hale County 4-H Club, which have jointly adopted the Regional Running Water Draw Hike & Bike Trail.

Freeman notes that the city has an inventory of more than 17 areas, both large and small, that are available for adoption.

The City Parks Department, under the direction of Superintendent Rusty Reese, is coordinating the program.

For information on available areas and how to sign up, visit plainviewtx.org/index.aspx?NID=353, facebook.com/CityofPlainviewTX or call 806-296-1156.

“We would like to thank RSVP and Hale County 4-H for leading by example to help beautify Plainview by signing up as the first volunteers of Adopt a Park,” Mayor Wendell Dunlap said. “We are excited that residents and organizations are expressing an interest in improving our community through this new program.”

Since originating in Texas almost 30 years ago, the Adopt-a-Highway program has expanded into a nationally and internationally recognized litter-prevention effort, according to TxDOT, with more than 4,000 participating groups across the state.

With TxDOT’s program, groups commit to adopting a two-mile stretch of highway for a minimum of two years. Interstate highways are not eligible. Participating organizations commit to pick up litter from their assigned areas at least four times a year. In return, Adopt-a-Highway signs with the group’s name are posted in their adopted sections of roadway. Volunteers are provided with safety vests, litterbags and safety training, and get to “bask in the glory of claiming a piece of Texas pride.”

To learn more about TxDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway program, contact Carolyn Craddick, Lubbock District coordinator, at 806-748-4443, which includes Castro, Swisher, Lamb, Hale and Floyd counties, or Childress District coordinator Barbara Seal at 940-937-7288 for information about adopting a highway in Briscoe County.